After the successful first flight of Perlan 2, Jim Payne, Chief Pilot of Airbus Perlan Mission II, talks about his ...

Interview to Jim Payne

After the successful first flight of Perlan 2, Jim Payne, Chief Pilot of Airbus Perlan Mission II, talks about his preparations for the record flight to 90,000 feet in 2016, his expectations when reaching the altitude and future challenges for the project which include Mars.

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After the successful first flight of Perlan 2, Jim Payne, Chief Pilot of Airbus Perlan Mission II, talks about his preparations for the record flight to 90,000 feet in 2016, his expectations when reaching the altitude and future challenges for the project which include Mars.

Perlan 2 can explore the edge of space without polluting its path, helping us learn more about weather forecasting, ...

477787519, Perlan glider: exploring the air waves

Perlan 2 can explore the edge of space without polluting its path, helping us learn more about weather forecasting, climate change, the ozone layer, the future of aviation and the future of space travel.

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Perlan 2 can explore the edge of space without polluting its path, helping us learn more about weather forecasting, climate change, the ozone layer, the future of aviation and the future of space travel.

30 May 2017Innovation

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30 May 2017Innovation

Stéphane Fymat, Perlan Project Board member

Stéphane Fymat

Stéphane Fymat, Perlan Project Board member

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Stéphane Fymat, Perlan Project Board member

07 March 2016Newsroom

Airbus CEO Tom Enders worked alongside the Perlan 2 glider team in the programme's home hangar in Minden, Nevada.

Airbus CEO Tom Enders worked alongside the Perlan 2 glider team in Nevada

Airbus CEO Tom Enders worked alongside the Perlan 2 glider team in the programme's home hangar in Minden, Nevada.

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Airbus CEO Tom Enders worked alongside the Perlan 2 glider team in the programme's home hangar in Minden, Nevada.

To the edge of space

Last update: 2 July 2017

Perlan Mission II is a purpose-built glider aiming to soar on wind currents to 27.4 kilometres –the stratosphere – as it researches high-altitude flight, climate change and even aviation science related to travel on Mars. As partner of Perlan Project, Airbus is helping push the boundaries of aerospace and discover more about climate change.

Reaching new heights

The Perlan 2 glider plane is essentially a spacecraft with an 84-foot wingspan, engineered to fly in conditions that mirror the surface of Mars. But before it can reach its record-breaking goal of soaring to 90,000 ft (27.4 km), the Perlan Project team has first made few test runs much closer to Earth. These trials began on 23 September 2015 at the Redmond Airport in Redmond, Oregon, when the glider succesfully completed its first ever test flight.

In July 2017, Airbus Perlan Mission II launched its second season of flight testing in El Calafate, Argentina. This Patagonian region is one of a few places on earth where a combination of mountain winds and the polar vortex create the world’s highest “stratospheric mountain waves” – rising air currents that Perlan pilots believe can eventually carry their experimental aircraft to the edge of space.

As partner of the Perlan Project, Airbus is lending its technical expertise, as well as financial support.

Learning valuable lessons

At 90,000 feet, the Perlan 2 must be engineered to fly in less than 3% of normal air density and at temperatures of -70°C. The mission will harvest invaluable data for scientists worldwide to help update and improve existing climate models.

The Perlan glider plane will investigate the interaction between the troposphere, the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, and the layer above it, the stratosphere, as well as collecting data on the depletion of the ozone layer, which filters out harmful UV rays. The Airbus Perlan Mission II will also gain experience in very high altitude flight, an area of interest for Airbus for future aerospace applications.

30 May 2017Innovation

Perlan II flying over Argentina

Inspiring through science

Uncharting unknown territory—that’s every scientist’s dream,” says Chief Meteorologist Dr. Elizabeth Austin. It’s with Austin’s expertise that the perfect brew of climactic conditions has been determined to help launch the Perlan II up into the stratosphere. Very little is known about the stratosphere because there have been no aircraft that can remain at level flight at altitude long enough to gather data.

As the glider flies toward its goal of 90,000 ft, atmospheric science experiments and research on ozone depletion and climate change can be conducted.

Onboard flight and weather sensors are planned for the Perlan 2, and partner high schools and universities has submitted cube-sat experiment proposals to be carried onboard the craft. Students may measure things like winds, UV, temperature, ozone, even take biological samples.

Wisdom begins with wonder

“A major aspect of the Airbus Perlan Mission II is to inspire young people to go into STEM subjects because they see that you can do cool stuff with it,” says Perlan Project board member Stéphane Fymat. “The heyday of the US space programme was so inspiring, and when it slowed down, a lot of people were left wanting. Now, they’re the ones getting involved in innovative aerospace endeavours like ours.”

“We’re going to have multiple masters’ and PhD students writing their meteorological, aviation and aeronautical engineering theses on this project. The Perlan Mission’s longevity is extended thanks to their research of those shaping aerospace’s future.” Elizabeth AustinPerlan Project Chief Meteorologist

21 March 2017Newsroom

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